Project Description

Specialist School Extension for SEND Pupils at Tor View School

As local authorities across the UK work to fulfil the SEND Sufficiency Strategy, the demand for high-quality SEND classroom extensions has never been higher. With councils recently allocated £3bn in government funding to create thousands of additional specialist places, schools like Tor View in Lancashire are leading the way by implementing rapid, high-specification modular solutions. This case study explores how a bespoke modular school extension for SEND pupils provided Tor View School with three critical new classrooms, enabling the academy to successfully manage a significant increase in pupil numbers while maintaining a world-class environment for learners with complex needs.

Facing over-capacity and need an SEND school extension? Discover how Tor View Special School added three new spaces using modular construction to support pupils with SEMH and physical disabilities.

Client: Tor View School

Location: Rossendale, Lancashire

Project: Three-Classroom Modular Extension for SEND Provision

Sector: Education / Special Educational Needs (SEND)

Project Overview And Brief

The Challenge: Addressing the Lancashire SEND Sufficiency Strategy

Tor View is a renowned Special School catering to learners aged 4-19 with Profound & Multiple, Severe, and Moderate Learning Difficulties. With many students presenting associated needs such as Down’s Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy, the school provides a vital Intensive Support Centre for those with complex communication and physical requirements.

Despite a stated capacity of 165, the school’s roll had swelled to 260 pupils—nearly 60% over capacity. With numbers set to rise again, Tor View worked closely with the Lancashire Local Authority to engage with the SEND Sufficiency Strategy. This strategy was developed to fulfil statutory duties and provide high-quality specialist provision in response to the surging demand for SEND places across the county.

To meet this need, the school required an urgent extension to accommodate SEND pupils, providing three additional classrooms without disrupting existing campus operations.

The Solution

Creating Additional SEND Teaching Space Using High-Performance Modular Classrooms

Utilising a surplus car parking area on the Ewood Campus, MPH Building Systems designed and delivered a bespoke modular building tailored to the specific requirements of the school’s Intensive Support Centre and broader student body.

A Solution To Government Funding For SEND Spaces

In line with the recent government initiative—highlighted by the BBC report on £3bn funding for SEND spaces—this project exemplifies how modular construction can rapidly bridge the gap between pupil numbers and available specialist facilities.

Design and Refurbishment

Key Features of the New SEND Extension Include

  • Specialist Classroom Environments: Three large, acoustically treated class bases designed to provide a calm, inclusive atmosphere for students with sensory and communication difficulties.
  • Inbuilt Climate Control: Energy-efficient air conditioning and ventilation systems to ensure a comfortable learning environment year-round.
  • Enhanced Natural Light: The inclusion of roof lanterns (skylights) provides abundant natural light, which has been proven to support the well-being and focus of SEND learners.
  • Inclusive Facilities: Wide corridors for wheelchair access and high-specification, fully accessible hygiene rooms and DDA-compliant toilets.
  • Durable, Safe Finishes: Anti-slip safety flooring and robust wall finishes designed for high-traffic, specialised educational use.

Build and Installation

The Result: Rapid Capacity Expansion

The project successfully delivered the additional space needed to help Tor View address its over-capacity. By choosing a modular school extension, the school benefited from a significantly shorter build schedule compared to traditional construction, minimising the impact on the highly sensitive learning environment.

The new building provides a modern, specialised learning environment that allows the school to continue its mission of providing world-class education to learners with complex needs.

Outcome

Fast-Track Delivery Of A SEND School Extension

Following a previous successful project on the site, the school’s leadership was confident in MPH’s ability to deliver under the specific constraints of an active SEND environment.

“Following a previous similar build on site, MPH have again worked really well with the school during the build and have responded to all queries promptly. The School cannot wait to move into the building and for the learners to access the wonderful spaces created.” — Sue Johnson, Academy Business Lead